Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School 2025

Develop your career in Cyber Security

The Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School (IDCSS) is an annual event organized by Dutch and Indian organizations for students based in the Netherlands or India and young professionals interested in cyber security issues. The central goal of this school is to give students and young professionals the opportunity to grow professionally and academically, through lectures and online action learning, in the sphere of cyber security.

Lecture Programme Challenges Study Guide

Attend the latest IDCSS

The need for ethical and highly educated young professionals in Cybersecurity is more pressing than ever. HCSS is proud to announce that IDCSS25 will be the eigth online course for young professionals in cyber security, held from 6th of October to the 7th of November 2025. IDCSS25 offers a valuable opportunity for participants to gain further expertise in cybersecurity. This year, emerging subjects such as Cryptography and AI will also be addressed. Exemplary attendees may be rewarded with certificates in the taught specialties. Apart from a rich academic experience, participants have the chance to broaden their network and meet new people, including our expert speakers, our partner’s representatives, and fellow students.

Registration (discount code HCSS100)

Programme and speakers

Over the years the Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School has held lectures on topics such as forensics in cybersecurity, data protection, blockchain, artificial intelligence, cyber arms watch and cloud computing. Our expert speakers come from a range of backgrounds in computer science, crisis and security management, law and industry. Previous speakers have included Christopher Painter – fmr. US Cyber Diplomat, and Venkatesh Murthy – Director of Data Security Council of India. In addition to the lectures, students will deepen their knowledge through action learning challenges, undertaken in multi-displinary groups and judged by the IDCSS partners. View the latest programme here.

IDCSS25 Programme

8000+

Number of registrations

Participating organisations

Our partners in academia, government and industry

Since its inception the IDCSS has been supported by over twenty partners in industry, research and government. Our partners have included Governments of Karnataka and Telangana in India, The Hague Municipality, Embassy of India in The Netherlands, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, TU Delft, Verizon and Symantec. As a result, students can partake in IDCSS for a nominal fee and distinguish themselves in front of their potential employers. This years sponsors include: Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in New Delhi, Embassy of India in The Hague, Government of Telangana, Data Security Council of India (DSCI), The Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence. Last year our partners included BlackPerl, Terra Eagle, Cynorsense and Globals Inc. New partners this year include Cyber People B.V. and Blockverse Institute.

IDCSS24 Testimonials: previous participants

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Previous Indo-Dutch Cyber Security Schools

The 2025 edition of IDCSS had over 8,000 participants from India and the Netherlands, who awarded the program a 7.8 out of 10 overall. Download the factsheet of the 2025 edition here.

The 2024 edition of IDCSS had over 2500 participants from India and the Netherlands, who awarded the program an 8.4 out of 10 overall. Download the factsheet of the 2024 edition here.

The 2023 edition of IDCSS had over 3300 participants from India and the Netherlands. Download the factsheet of the 2023 edition here.

In 2022 we had more than 2700 participants. Over 4 weeks in 2022 we held 20 specialist cyber security lectures and 5 multi-displinary challenges. In 2022, 95% of students were based in India and 5% based in the Netherlands. In 2021, 51% of participants were undergraduate students, 45% were graduate students and 4% PhD candidates. Since 2015, our cyber security schools have been held with the cooperation Municipality of The Hague and the Indian states of Telangana and Karnataka. Watch the 2020 IDCSS Inaugural Session here.

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Strategic Cyber Resilience Game

The Strategic Cyber Resilience Game will also be a part of IDCSS25. In order to achieve your Certificate of Attendance, your will have to actively participate in the game as well as attend >75% of the lectures. More information on this will be shared when you register.

In previous editions of IDCSS, students had the opportunity to play the Cyber Resilience Game as well. The intent of the game is to further educate the students on all different aspects of cyber resilience and challenge them to assess what capabilities are required to make India more cyber resilient. The game is played over a period of two weeks, guided by 3 online sessions, and played by more than 400 students. This component of the IDCSS curriculum gives the participants valuable insights about what lessons must be learned to make the Indo-Dutch cooperation and partnership more secure in our uncertain world. Based on the results of the 2023 game, a report was published on cyber resilience efforts in India, which can be downloaded here.

Find out more about HCSS serious gaming here.

Hackathons

IDCSS participants have the opportunity to extend their learning further and take part in innovative ‘hackathons’ in the Netherlands and India. IDCSS incentivizes participants to engage in multiple hackathons including Hackathon for Good, which is based in The Hague. Hackathon for Good is a hybrid event that takes place early 2026 again, and is open to anyone with a hacker mindset and the passion to work on data and AI for impact. More collaborations between IDCSS and hackathons will be announced soon!

Keep your eye on the Hackathon for Good website for when registrations open!

News

IDCSS25 partners with Cyber People and BlockVerse Institute!

September 23, 2025

We are excited to announce a new collaboration between the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), organiser of the Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School (IDCSS), and Cyber People, a leading organisation in cyber talent recruitment and placement, and BlockVerse Institute, a future ready skilling and workforce transformation partner. Cyber People and BlockVerse Institute will support IDCSS in identifying top-performing students and skilling them based on industry demand. The skilling is to get them job ready and will be a self-paid, part-time, 3 months long program after IDCSS finishes. Students who perform well in this job readiness cohort will then be connected with relevant career opportunities within the cyber industry. You can already register your interest in the link!

The 8th edition of the Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School (IDCSS25) is open for registrations!

September 11, 2025

The 8th Edition of the Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School (IDCSS25) is now open for registrations! IDCSS25 will run from October 6th to November 7th, 2025. IDCSS is an annual online 5 week course for students and young to mid-career professionals who are interested in cybersecurity based in India or the Netherlands. Make sure to register now to secure your spot!

The Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School is back for 2023

August 9, 2023

The annual Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School, co-organised by The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE), the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) is back for another year! The Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School 2023 is supported by The Municipality of The Hague, Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in New Delhi, Embassy of India in The Hague, and Government of Telangana. Aimed at students and young professionals based in the Netherlands and India, IDCSS offers a unique platform to delve into the realm of cyber security. With a strong focus on professional and academic growth, this month long programme features engaging lectures, team working and interactive projects, empowering participants to excel in the field of cyber security.

Indo-Dutch Innovators: interview with Michel Rademaker on cybersecurity

December 14, 2022

For their Indo-Dutch Innovator series, the Netherlands Innovation Network India spoke to Michel Rademaker, Deputy Director at HCSS and one of the key persons behind the Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School 2022. Michel talked about cybersecurity, cyber diplomacy and the benefits of an Indo-Dutch collaboration in the cyber sector.

Launch of the 5th edition of the Indo-Dutch Cybersecurity School (IDCSS22)

October 28, 2022

We are delighted to announce the 5th edition of the Indo-Dutch Cybersecurity School (IDCSS22), an online programme, is launching today. This 4-week free course is a joint initiative of Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), Data Security Council of India (DSCI), the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence Telangana, the Municipality of The Hague, the Embassy of India in The Hague, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New Delhi, along with several partner organizations and sponsors.

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Meet the lecturers

Michel Rademaker
Michel Rademaker is one of the co-founders of HCSS and the Deputy Director. His fields of expertise include security strategy, policy, concepts and doctrines, technology assessments, geopolitical and economic security implications of climate change, raw materials and energy supply and serious gaming techniques.

At IDCSS, he will host the ‘Cyber Resilience Game’, an online serious-game that allows students to practically engage with hypothetical cyber incidents. The game will be explained in 3 Phases and end with a results session.

Michel Rademaker

Deputy Director HCSS
Kerissa Varma
With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, including two Group CISO roles at some of Africa‘s biggest companies (Vodacom and Old Mutual), Kerissa joined Microsoft in October 2024 as the new Chief Security Advisor for Africa. Kerissa’s cybersecurity experience spans a number of industries including government, telecommunication and financial services. Having engaged and managed complex environments and geographically dispersed teams, and been accountable for board, regulatory and governmental engagement on cybersecurity across multiple countries, Kerissa brings with her a wealth of leadership and senior stakeholder engagement skills. Her aim is to make cybersecurity simple to understand and communicate, and to empower leaders to think about cybersecurity as a business priority. Her conversations focus on how Microsoft and customers are protecting themselves and planning for the future. Kerissa is passionate about empowering women in cybersecurity and is also the President and Founder of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Southern Africa which encourages gender equity in cybersecurity across 11 African countries.

At IDCSS, she will provide a lecture on Security for AI and AI for Security.

Kerissa Varma

Microsoft Chief Security Advisor for Africa
Tom Moester
Tom Moester is Cyber Security Consultancy Lead at Hunt & Hackett, a leading cyber security company in The Netherlands with a focus on protecting organisations that are or may be affected by sophisticated cyber attacks. His fields of expertise include cyber security assessments, threat intelligence and attack scenarios, roadmap development to digital resilience and cyber security frameworks.

At IDCSS, he will present a digital threat analysis for the recent NATO summit that took place in The Hague in June. How do malicious actors operate in cyberspace? Threat scenarios are discussed from a geopolitical perspective, including espionage, sabotage, disruption, and disinformation campaigns. Who then are the key threat actors, and what tactics and techniques do they use? How does this impact the Summit locations, embassies, government institutions, and critical sectors in The Netherlands? How can cyber resilience be strengthened in the lead-up to this and other major international events?

Tom Moester

Cyber Security Consultancy Lead at Hunt & Hackett
Moliehi Makumane
Moliehi is a researcher with the Security and Technology Programme at UNIDIR. Her expertise spans the international cybersecurity domain with emphasis on the implications of emerging technologies for security in developing countries. Before joining UNIDIR, Moliehi was with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation where she led the international cybersecurity file, as negotiator in the OEWG and a senior advisor in the UN GGE. She also worked on the Inter governmental expert Group on cybercrime. She holds an Honours Degree in political and international studies from Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa. She speaks English and South Sotho. Moliehi’s areas of expertise include international ICT security and international cybercrime.

At IDCSS, she will provide a lecture on State Responsibility in Cybersecurity.

Moliehi Makumane

Researcher Security and Technology at UNIDIR
Thomas Attema
Thomas Attema is a senior researcher in the Applied Cryptography and Quantum Applications department of TNO and the Cryptology group of CWI. In 2023, he obtained his PhD at Leiden University. He focusses on the development of new cryptographic techniques capable of withstanding quantum attacks and allowing data to be analysed in a privacy preserving manner.

At IDCSS, Thomas will provide a lecture on the Quantum threat to Cryptography. Quantum computers form a significant threat to many of the cryptographic primitives that are currently in use. To mitigate this threat a timely migration to new cryptographic primitives, capable of withstanding quantum attacks, is essential.

Thomas Attema

Senior Researcher at CWI and TNO
Johan de Wit
Johan de Wit works for Siemens Smart Infrastructure as Technical Officer Enterprise Security and is involved in global Siemens portfolio development. He owns a masters degree in Security Science and recently successfully defended his PhD at Delft Technical University where he explored the characteristics of security risk assessments. He is a member of various expert communities and advisory boards like: the Dutch National Cyber Security Center, ASIS, Information Security Forum, Overseas Security Advisory Board (OSAC). He is a regular speaker at conferences and universities and publishes papers and articles.

At IDCSS, he will give a lecture on Cybersecurity of Operational Technology (OT).

Johan de Wit

Technical Officer Enterprise Security at Siemens Smart Infrastructure
Frits Bussemaker
Frits Bussemaker is the chair of the ‘Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age’. An association instigated by UNESCO in 2017 aimed to help define instruments for, and manage accountability in the Digital Age. Bussemaker has a passion for bringing people together in the Digital Age. He has initiated and helped run a number of (international) communities focused on linking Information Technology, Innovation and Impact including ITU’s AIforGood and is a member of the Global Board of Directors of the WITSA. He is a regular speaker on community building and chair at international events and has spoken all over the world

At IDCSS, he will give a lecture on Accountability in the Digital Age.

Frits Bussemaker

Chair Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age
Srinivas Naik
Srinivas Naik is a Security Research Manager from Intel Corporation, with 17+ years of experience and has global certifications like CPTE, CHFI, ECSA, MVRE*. An expert in evaluating End-to-End product security posture includes Cloud, AI Security, IoT Ecosystem, Communication Protocols & Mobile Applications and deals Cyber Forensics & Incident Responses.

He has 5+ patents in US, Europe and India. He is widely invited as keynote speaker at various organisations and institutions. His contribution to security has been global as a speaker in BSidesSLC, Intel Security Conference, Contributor in CWE Hardware, Reviewer in CSA and few more.

Naik brings extensive global leadership experience in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, spanning diverse sectors such as banking, pharma, manufacturing, retail, automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consulting. His expertise covers security architecture, threat modeling, penetration testing, risk assessment, and lifecycle management of products and solutions.

Naik is well-regarded for his ability to bridge research, industry, and practice, with hands-on experience in automotive security, industrial control systems (ICS), healthcare modalities, telematics, embedded products, cloud, and mobile platforms. His passion lies in building sustainable, resilient cybersecurity ecosystems and inspiring the next generation of professionals through thought leadership and knowledge sharing.

At IDCSS, he will give a lecture on Web Application Security.

Srinivas Naik

Security Research Manager at Intel Corporation
Mahi Gupta
Mahi Gupta is an accomplished Data Privacy expert with extensive experience in privacy strategy, consulting and risk assessment. She holds a master’s degree in law and is a certified CIPP/E and CDPO.Currently, she is working with an AI based product startup ensuring regulatory compliance and Privacy by design adherence. She is an active speaker and advocate of Privacy at international forums like IAPP, DSCI and others.

At IDCSS, she will give a lecture on Data Privacy in Focus: An Overview of GDPR & DPDPA.

Mahi Gupta

Vice President of Privacy Strategy at Data Safeguard Inc.
Amit Rao
Amit Rao is an industry consultant leading market development at Device Authority, a global leader in Zero Trust IoT automation, focusing on industrial, healthcare, transportation, and critical infrastructure sectors.
With 25 years in semiconductor and hi-tech industries, Amit previously drove business expansion at STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments across India and South Asia, targeting industrial, automotive, defence, and space markets.
A passionate technology advocate specializing in IoT security and privacy, Amit volunteers with ISO/IEC, India’s Department of Telecom, and C-DOT, and co-founded the IoT Security Foundation Bangalore chapter

At IDCSS, he will give a lecture on IoT Security: Current Landscape and Future Outlook.

Amit Rao

Founding/board member of IoT Security Foundation
Vinod Babu B
Vinod Babu is a seasoned cybersecurity researcher, technopreneur, and trainer with over two decades of experience in designing, developing, and implementing advanced security solutions. At the helm of Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Ltd’s technology division, he drives innovation across healthcare, cybersecurity, and enterprise applications, while also pioneering AI-based solutions for operational and clinical excellence as the Chief Executive Officer.

A Research Scholar in Cybersecurity with a Master’s in Technology from BITS Pilani, he is a recognized expert in Automotive, Industrial, and Embedded Cybersecurity, as well as Security Testing, Penetration Testing, and Digital Forensics. His career spans extensive international consulting and training engagements, where he has delivered cybersecurity programs and capacity-building initiatives in countries across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

He has worked closely with law enforcement agencies in India and abroad as a consultant in cybercrime investigations, and is certified as both a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and an EC-Council Certified Instructor (CEI). His expertise extends to critical standards and frameworks such as NIST, ISO 21434, and ISA/IEC 62443, making him a trusted advisor on audits, assessments, and security governance.
An accomplished author, reviewer, and speaker, he has contributed to books, scientific journals, and training programs worldwide. He has been instrumental in building SOCs, SIEM, and EDR solutions for organizations, while also advancing capabilities in deception technologies, blockchain security, IoT and OT/ICS security, and digital investigations.

Beyond his professional pursuits, he is an active amateur radio and software-defined radio enthusiast, holding a General grade license, and continues to explore emerging technologies with a passion for innovation and knowledge-sharing.

At IDCSS, he will give a lecture on Automotive Security.

Vinod Babu B

CEO of Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Limited
Olaf Kolkman
Olaf Kolkman is an executive-level advisor to, and spokesperson of, the Internet Society, where he strategises, analyses, formulates, reviews and advises on technical, and policy issues. For over 2 and a half decades, Olaf has been actively engaged in the intersection of Internet technology, society and policy matters, in particular those related to security and trustworthiness of the Internet. He serves on several advisory boards is member of the SIDN supervisory board and is treasurer of the Global Forum on Expertise in Cyberspace Foundation. He was also a commissioner on the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace. He describes himself as an Internet generalist and evangineer, somebody with deep knowledge on some of the Internet’s technical aspects who particularly enjoys bridging the technology-society-policy gaps.

At IDCSS he will provide a lecture on The Internet Way of Networking.

Olaf Kolkman

Principal – Internet Technology, Policy and Advocacy at Internet Society
Charlotte Lindsey
Charlotte Lindsey, a Subject Matter Expert at HCSS, has over 30 years of experience in the humanitarian, cyber and policy fields including on the impact and risks of emerging technologies. Formerly Director of Digitalization and Data at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Chief Public Policy Officer at the CyberPeace Institute, she has published on digital transformation, cyberattacks, cybersecurity and women and war. In 2025, Charlotte co-authored a Report for the Paris Peace Forum on the AI-Cybersecurity Nexus (published February 2025) and is lead author and editor for the IFRC World Disasters Report on Truth, Trust and Harmful Information in Humanitarian Contexts (to be published in November 2025), and authored an article on Data Protection and Digitalization for the International Committee of the Red Cross (to be published in January 2026).

She co-chaired the Working Group on Cyber Mercenaries of the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace in 2023-24 and contributed to the final report. She led digital strategies for the ICRC and Terre des hommes, a Swiss INGO. She also wrote strategies to respond to harmful information for other international organizations. Charlotte is also a civil society representative on the Swiss Government’s Steering Committee for the implementation of the national cyber strategy. She is regularly a speaker at events on a range of subjects related to cyber, tech and harmful information.

At IDCSS, she will provide a lecture on Cyber Mercenaries.

Charlotte Lindsey

Strategic Advisor Cyber Security, HCSS
Hans Henseler
Hans is senior digital forensics scientist at the Netherlands Forensic Institute and a part-time professor Digital Forensics & E-Discovery at the University of Applied Sciences Leiden. He is chairman of the Board of Directors of DFRWS until recently he was a member of the board of the Netherlands Register of Court Experts (NRGD). From 2010-2014 he was partner and senior E-Discovery consultant at Fox IT. Besides E-Discovery projects he also led the development of Tracks Inspector. Tracks Inspector separated from Fox-IT after a management buy-out in 2014 where Hans was CEO and co-founder until the acquisition by Magnet Forensics in 2018 where he was Director of Digital Evidence Review until March 2020.

At IDCSS, he will provide a lecture on Digital Forensics.

Hans Henseler

Senior Scientist Digital Forensics at Netherlands Forensic Institute
Christopher Painter
Chris Painter is a globally recognized leader and expert on cybersecurity and cyber policy, Cyber Diplomacy and combatting cybercrime. He has been on the vanguard of U.S. and international cyber issues for over twenty five years—first as a prosecutor of some of the most high-profile cybercrime cases in the country and then as a senior official at the Department of Justice, FBI, the National Security Council and finally the State Department. He has initiated, helped drive, or advised on virtually every major U.S. cyber policy for over a decade and has created innovative new organizations and approaches to deal with threats and take advantage of opportunities in cyberspace.

In his most recent government role as the nation’s top cyber diplomat, Mr. Painter coordinated and led the United States’ diplomatic efforts to advance an open, interoperable, secure and reliable Internet and information infrastructure and advised the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of State on these emerging issues. The pioneering office that Mr. Painter established — the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues — was the first high-level position and office dedicated to advancing the diplomatic aspects of cyber issues ranging from national security to human rights matters. These issues include promoting norms of responsible state behavior and cyber stability, preventing cyber conflict, enhancing deterrence, advancing cybersecurity, fighting cybercrime, promoting multi-stakeholder Internet governance and advancing Internet freedom.

Among many other things, Mr. Painter was instrumental in negotiating a landmark agreement regarding the theft of intellectual property with China, negotiating a comprehensive cyber cooperation agreement with India, using diplomatic and other tools to combat high-profile cyber attacks and intrusions, and launching first of their kind “whole of government” cyber dialogues and capacity building programs with dozens of countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. He and his team also spearheaded the promotion of an international framework of cyber stability that includes building a consensus around norms of acceptable behavior and getting agreement on transparency and confidence-building measures designed to reduce the risk of miscalculation that could inadvertently lead to conflict in cyberspace.

Prior to joining the State Department, Mr. Painter served in the White House as Senior Director for Cyber Policy and Acting Cyber Coordinator in the National Security Council. He was a senior member of the team that conducted the President’s Cyberspace Policy Review in 2009 and he subsequently helped create and then structure a new directorate in the National Security Council devoted to these issues.

Mr. Painter has been a frequent media spokesperson and presenter on cyber issues around the globe. He was named the Bartels World Affairs Fellow by Cornell University for 2017-2018 and chosen as a member of the Board of the Center for Internet Security. He is the recipient of the prestigious RSA Award for Excellence in the Field of Public Policy (2016), the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the Intelligence Community Legal Award (2008) and has been named to the “Federal 100” list, among other honors. He is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Cornell University and clerked for US Circuit Judge Betty Fletcher. Currently Mr Painter serves as a Commissioner in the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace.

At IDCSS, he will provide a lecture on Ransomware.

Christopher Painter

Senior Fellow, Cyber Security
Puneet Bhasin
Puneet Bhasin is a leading expert in Cyber Law in India and has been awarded the Best Cyber Lawyer in the country. She advises Rajya Sabha Committees on Internet laws and has received 13 National Awards for her contributions. Puneet has played a key role in drafting amendments to the IT Act, formulating India’s Data Protection Law, and providing recommendations on cryptocurrency and cybercrimes against women.She is a published author, frequently featured on major news channels, and her book on social media crimes is a bestseller. As the founder of Cyberjure Academy, she has trained over 400 professionals and mentored thousands globally.

At IDCSS, she will provide a lecture on International Cyber Laws.

Puneet Bhasin

Advocate, Cyber Law Expert, Founder, Cyberjure Legal consulting
Shivbihari Pandey
Shivbihari Pandey has a diverse work experience in the field of security research and technology. Shivbihari is currently the Founder of Cyethack Solutions, a company they established in 2022. Prior to this, Shivbihari worked as a Senior Security Researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur from 2019 to 2023. Shivbihari also gained valuable experience as a Security Researcher at Bugcrowd Inc from 2016 to 2022 and at HackerOne from 2016 to 2021. Additionally, Shivbihari completed an internship at Aleph Tav Technologies Pvt Ltd in 2017.

Shivbihari Pandey holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Prior to that, they completed their Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Computer Science from Jabalpur Engineering College. Shivbihari also attended Jawahar Navodaya Vidhyalaya for their Higher Secondary education, specializing in Mathematics and Computer Science. In addition to their formal education, Shivbihari has obtained multiple certifications in various fields, including cybersecurity, networking, and data science. Some notable certifications include "Hands-On Labs in Google Cloud for Security Engineers" from Google and "Cybersecurity Operations Technology" from MyGov India. Shivbihari has also received certificates of appreciation for their work in vulnerability assessment from Intel Labs and Lenovo. Shivbihari has further enhanced their skills in data science through certifications in Python and R programming languages from DataCamp.

At IDCSS, he will provide a lecture on Penetration Testing.

Shivbihari Pandey

Founder of Cyethack Solutions
Ashish Rao
Ashish Rao is Director & Co-Founder of Synradar. He is a visionary product leader with over 17 years of experience in building security solutions that truly make a difference.

Ashish has a proven track record of delivering scalable, outcome-driven platforms that empower enterprises and BFSI organizations to stay compliant, mitigate risk, and streamlined approach to governance, risk, and compliance.

As the driving force behind SynRader, he blends deep technical insight with a passion for product innovation - helping organizations embrace a more intelligent, proactive, and streamlined approach to governance, risk, and compliance.

At IDCSS, he will provide a lecture on Container Security.

Ashish Rao

Director and Co-Founder of SynRadar

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will the IDCSS25 take place?

A: The IDCSS25 will take place between the 6th of October and the 7th of November 2025. Lectures will start on the 7th of October and run every day for the next three weeks. The last lecture will take place on the 24th of October. This will be followed by two weeks of challenges, during which students will work in groups to complete several target-oriented tasks. The results of the Strategic Cyber Resilience Game and the challenges will be announced on the final week of the IDCSS25, with the closing ceremony to be held on the 7th of November. Find the full programme here.

Q: How much time should I reserve for IDCSS25 courses and assignments?

A: Students are expected to be engaged part-time in the IDCSS25 programme, so as not to be hindered in fulfilling their academic obligations in their respective universities. More specifically, attendants will be required to spend approximately 20 hours on lectures and 10 hours on assignments, spread out over 4 weeks.

Q: When will the final program details be released?

A: The final programme details are expected in due time, including details about courses and lecturers. Details on the assignments will be released halfway through the courses, in which time the selection of participants among the pool of students will be made.

Q: I do not have a background in Cybersecurity. Can I apply to IDCSS25?

A: Yes, you can! The lectures of the IDCSS25 are designed in such a way that they provide a mixture of content for both students who are new to the field as well as attendees that wish to build upon pre-existing knowledge.

Q: I don’t fulfill all the criteria. Can I apply to IDCSS25?

A: Yes! Your motivation and acquired knowledge about cybersecurity also matters. Students who fulfill the criteria and are also highly motivated will be given priority.

Q: Is there a participation fee?

A: There is a participation fee of 1000 INR in order to cover organisational costs. There is no fee for Dutch participants.

Q: How are courses going to be conducted?

A: This year’s courses are going to be conducted online. Participants will need a digital device (desktop, laptop or smartphone) that uses enough bandwidth and has a stable connection in order to be able to attend the lectures, which are going to be livestreamed using Microsoft Teams and livestreamed on the IDCSS YouTube channel.

Q: Will I receive credits?

A: We are currently in discussion with various Colleges regarding a credit system for the IDCSS. More information will be published on the official IDCSS website. Apart from credits, participating students will receive an official certificate upon completion of the IDCSS25.

Students who manage to successfully complete the school will receive up to two certificates by the end of the program.

Indian students have the opportunity to do tests during the program, which will provide graded results.

Q: What kind of Certificate will I receive?

A: The IDCSS provides students with two types of certification. For attending >75% of lectures in the first part of the IDCSS program, and successfully completing the Strategic Cyber Resilience Game, students will receive a Certificate of Attendance. Upon completion of a Challenge in the second part of the IDCSS program, students will receive a Certification of Participation.

Q: What are the requirements for receiving a Certificate?

A: Students who have successfully participated in at least 75% of the IDCSS lectures AND have actively played the Strategic Cyber Resilience Game, were present at two out of three Game sessions and submitted their final deliverable, will receive an official Certificate of Attendance. Upon successful completion of a Challenge, students will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Michel Rademaker

Deputy Director